L1, L2, L3: three acronyms omnipresent on Parcoursup, in training frameworks, and on transcripts. They refer to the three years of a university degree, but their logic is based less on a temporal division than on an accumulation of European credits. Understanding what L1, L2, and L3 mean allows for a proper reading of a university path, anticipating prerequisites between years, and situating a French diploma within the European space.
ECTS Credits and Levels L1, L2, L3: Comparative Table
The LMD system (licence-master-doctorat) structures higher education in France and in most European countries. L1, L2, and L3 are not just simple year labels: each level corresponds to a threshold of validated ECTS credits.
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| Level | Cumulative ECTS Credits | Equivalent bac+ | Degree Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| L1 | 60 | Bac+1 | No degree (no automatic intermediate diploma) |
| L2 | 120 | Bac+2 | DEUG awarded only upon request |
| L3 | 180 | Bac+3 | Licence degree |
The complete licence, validated at the end of L3, confers the licence degree with 180 ECTS credits. This degree is recognized throughout the European higher education area, facilitating mobility between universities in different countries.
The DEUG (diploma of general university studies), often considered obsolete, can still be awarded at the end of L2 if the student requests it. To better understand what L1 L2 L3 means in detail, it is essential to distinguish these credit thresholds and the degrees they confer. The DEUG certifies 120 validated ECTS credits, but does not confer the licence degree.
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L1: Portals, Majors, and First Orientation at University
L1 is rarely a single-discipline year. Many universities organize the first semester, or even the entire year, in the form of portals grouping several disciplines. A “Human and Social Sciences” portal might combine sociology, history, and geography before the student chooses a specific major in L2.
This portal system has a direct consequence: disciplinary specialization gradually refines between L1 and L3. A student enrolled in a broad portal in the first year finds themselves in a more targeted path starting in the second year.
The first 60 ECTS credits are distributed among fundamental teaching units, university methodology, and sometimes transversal teachings (languages, digital tools). Each semester represents 30 credits, with compensation modalities varying by university.
Transition from L1 to L2 then to L3: Prerequisites and Access Rules
Validating a year does not automatically guarantee access to all programs in the following year. Some L2 or L3 programs require not only the validation of the previous year but also specific disciplinary prerequisites defined by each university.
- A student who validates their L1 in a scientific portal may be denied access to a mathematics L2 if they have not taken the required teaching units in that discipline
- The transition to L3 in a different major than that followed in L2 often requires a review of the application by the educational committee of the targeted program
- Reorientations between fields (for example, from humanities to sciences) remain possible but generally involve leveling up or additional credits to validate
This reality is often underestimated by students who imagine a linear and automatic path from L1 to L3. Internal access rules differ from one university to another and from one major to another.
L3: Year of Specialization and Preparation for Master’s
L3 is not just a simple extension of L2. In most training frameworks, it is designed as a year of orientation towards the master’s, with a clear strengthening of disciplinary skills.
Teaching becomes more specialized. The assignments requested are closer to the methodology expected in a master’s: reading specialized publications, writing short theses, internships in certain fields. The stated goal of universities is to prepare students for selection into master’s programs, which now occurs at the entry to M1.
The choice of the path in L3 directly impacts applications for master’s programs. An “education” path in L3 of humanities does not prepare for the same master’s programs as a “research” or “cultural professions” path. L3 acts as a first filter for professional orientation, well before the master’s degree.
Licence and Licence Degree: A Distinction Often Ignored
The term “licence” refers both to a national diploma and a university degree. Confusion is common, but the distinction has concrete implications.
The licence degree can be conferred by diplomas other than the general licence. The BUT (bachelor universitaire de technologie), awarded by IUTs after three years of study, also confers the licence degree. However, a BTS (bac+2) does not confer any university degree, even though it grants 120 ECTS credits.
- The general licence (L1+L2+L3): national diploma, licence degree, 180 ECTS
- The professional licence: national diploma, licence degree, 180 ECTS, with a more marked professional orientation
- The BUT: national diploma awarded by IUTs, licence degree since the reform, 180 ECTS
This distinction between diploma and degree explains why some recruiters or foreign universities request a degree certificate rather than just a copy of the diploma. The degree is conferred by the State, regardless of the institution that provides the training.
The L1-L2-L3 system thus structures much more than a three-year calendar. It organizes a measured rise in competencies quantified in ECTS credits, framed by variable prerequisites and sanctioned by a degree recognized throughout Europe. The key takeaway remains this: without the 180 validated credits at the end of L3, there is neither a licence diploma nor a university degree, regardless of the time spent at university.